Agitator for grain-heaters.



A. J. KOEGLER.

AGITATOR FOR GRAIN HEATERS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 12,1910.

Patented Sept. 27, 1910.

UN 1TH STATES AUGUST J. KOEGLER, or MILWAUKEE, Wisconsin.

AGI'IATOR FOR GRAIN-HEATERS.

minis.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AUGUST J. KoEcLER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Milwaukee, county of Milwaukee, and State of \Visconsin,have invented new and useful Improvements in Agitators for Grain-Heaters, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in that class of devices which areadapted to be used for deflecting and agitating grain as it flowsthrough the vertical steam heated tubes of a grain heater.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple and efflcient deviceby which the grain which might otherwise pass too rapidly through thecenter of the tube to become properly heated, is forced by this deviceoutwardly against the heated walls of the tube, whereby all of the grain(011% mingled together and uniformly heated to the desired temperature.

The construction of my invention is further explained by reference tothe accom panying drawing, which represents a vertical section of theordinary grain heater, showing my grain deflecting device or agitator intwo tubes of the heater.

Like parts are identified by the same reference numerals.

1 is a steam chamber, from the heads 2 and 3 of which a plurality ofgrain heating tubes l are supported. The heads 2 and 3 are centrallyconnected and reinforced by the stay rod 5 and rod inclosing tube 6.

7 is an inlet steam duct and 8 is an outlet steam duct.

9 is a grain receiving chamber into which the grain is dischargedpreparatory to being heated in the tubes 1, and 10 is a dischargechamber into which the heated grain is adapted to flow from said heatingtubes, and from which chamber it is lead to the grinding rollers of amill preparatory to being ground into flour.

The heater, thus far described, is substantially of ordinaryconstruction, and invention is herein predicated more especially uponthe construction of the grain deflecting and agitating members 11 and12.

11 shows the preferred form and 12 the modified form of grain deflectingmembers. The grain deflecting members 11 and 12 both comprise a longnarrow thin strip of sheet metal, which is spirally bent in suchSpecification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 12, 1910.

Patented Sept. 2%, 1910.

Serial No. 560,799.

a manner as to cause the descending grain to move in a spiral coursefrom the upper to the lower ends of said tubes and said strips are alsoprovided with laterally projecting members by which the grain, whichmight otherwise pass down through the center of the tubes, is deflectedoutwardly and thereby brought in contact with the heated walls of thetubes, whereby the flow of the grain is retarded until it becomesthoroughly mixed and uniformly heated.

1n the preferred form referred to by the reference numeral 11, thedeflecting members 13 are formed by a horizontal cut 1 1, and a verticalcut 15, when the members 13 are curved outwardly at an angle to thevertical, as shown upon the right in said figure, while by the form ofagitator indicated by the reference numeral 12. the vertical strip isprovided with a plurality of conical projections ll which conicalprojections are provided with cylindrical members 17, which are securedin apertures 18 of said vertical strips by riveting or upsetting theprotruding ends of said cylindrical members. Both of said strips are,however, provided with the same spiral curve or twist and the laterallyprojecting deflecting bearings are arranged to alternate with each otherfrom opposite sides of said strip and said strip is so twisted as tocause said projections to radiate horizontally in all directions,whereby no part of the grain is permitted to descend from the upper tothe lower ends of said tubes without being brought in contact with saidlateral projections. As a means of suspending the deflecting members 11and 12 in the vertical tubes, said members are both provided withoutwardly diverging arms 19, 19, which arms are formed by the verticalcentral slit 20, when they are bent outwardly, as shown, so as to bearagainst the verti ial side walls of said tubes, when, owing to theirdown- 'ardly converging shape, said deflecting men'lbers are caused toseek the center of such tubes of their own gravity and are not liable,as they might otherwise be, to hang at one side of the inclosing tubes.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

In a grain deflector and agitator for the heating tubes of grainheaters, a spirally curved strip of sheet metal provided with aplurality of integrally formed deflecting members alternating with eachother from centrally from the upper end of a grain opposite sides ofsaid strip, said deflecting heating tube. 10 members being respectivelyformed from the In testimony whereof I aflix my signature respectiveedges of said strip by a single in the presence of two Witnesses.

horizontal and vertical slit, and by bending AUGUST J. KOEGLER.

that portion of the metal above the horilVitnesses:

zontal slit outwardly at an angle to the JAS. B. ERWIN,

vertical, and means for suspending said strip 0. R. ERWIN.

